Testing device for automatic sprinkler heads, etc.



Dec'. 11, 1923.

A. L. ABBOTT TESTING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER HEADS, ETC.

Filed May 21, 1920 8 +1 00 M 1 oz 4%?25 z 4421:. r

Patented Dec. 11, 1923.

UNITED STATES.

1,476,786 PATENT OFFICE.

almanac: L. ABBOTT, or YOUNGS'IQWN, onia assre von ro OI-IIO acro ymrrcsr am LER-GOMPANY, or YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, A coaroimrioiv or OHIO.

TESTING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER HEADS, ETC.

Application filed May 21, 1920. Serial'No. 383,212.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT L. ABBOTT, of Youngstown, Mahoning County,State of Ohio, have made a certain new and useful invention relating toTesting Devices for Automatic Sprinkler Heads, Etc, ofwhich thefollowing is a specification taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing;

This :inventionrelates especially to devices foradjusting the tension ofautomatic sprinkler heads or the. like so that the usual strut leversholding closed the valve or shut-off device of the head'and cooperatingwith the fusible links or'members may be placedunder substantially thestandard tension desired. For this purpose magnifying or otherindicating means may be provided to indicate the yield of the partsunder the action of a'testing'force; for example the sprinkler headmaybe originally assembled with the compression or set screwsovertightened so that the strut levers and cooperating parts areover-tensioned, and then the head may 'beplaced in the testing device'in engagement with a testing lever or element'of any suitable characterand a standard weight, spring or other pressure appliedto the strutlevers of the head. The position of 'the head and testing lever ispreferably then adjusted so that a cooperat ing indicating device isbrought to zero, and the compression set screw or other adjustin'gdevice of the sprinkler head may then 'rbe progressively changed orloosened until the standard testing force applied to the strut leverscauses' the proper slight yielding thereof to correspond; to aconsiderable or standard movement of the connectediIidicat-ingmechanism, after which the head may be released fromthetesting lever and its compression sc'rew pinned or otherwisedefinitely securedin this adjusted position. The illustrativeembodimentof this test ing 'mechanism is shown in a somewhat diagranmiatic way inthe accompanying drawing which is a side elevation, parts being shown'in section;

The testing device may as indicated comprise a suitable base 1 on whichfulcrum. members 4 may be arranged so as to sup port the knife edge'bearings dof the testing lever "2. The testingpressure'used'inconnection with this lever be applied tothe'iknife edge bearings '5 ofthe lever with which the 1 cooperating bearing members 6 may engage soas to connect them with the hook 7 on the end of the weight stem 8 towhich any desired number of ad,- justable we'ights9 may be secured. Oneend of this testing lever, preferably one adjacent the weight, may bearranged with a suitable contact end, such, for example, as thereplaceable contact end 28 of such size and shape as to properlycooperate with the end of one of the strut levers 30 and of coursecontact ends of any suitable form may be removably secured to thetesting lever as by the screws 13. The other strut lever 31 may beengaged by a contact pin or member 28 movably mounted in the base andadjusted toward or from the upper contact 28' as by the setting cam 25pivoted about the pin 26 so that when the setting handle 27 is moved ina horizontal plane the inclined cam surface 24: is moved under thecontact pin to control its vertical position.

A support may be advantageously arranged for the'weighted or contact endof the testing lever and as indicated the stud or projection 10 on thislever may be engaged and supported from time to time: by the support-'or adjustable stop 11 which may have threaded engagement with thesupport stem 12. The lower end of this stem maybe connected by the pivot13 with the link 141 pivoted by the pin 15 to a suitable crank on therockshaft 16. This rock shaft and crank may be operated'by the connectedreleasing lever 17' having the latch 18' normally spring pressed as bythe spring 19 into the notches '20 which may be formed in a suitablesector 22 on the base or frame-of the machine. By releasing thislatch-as by raising the head or projecting end 11 thereof when thehandle42 of this releasing lever is engaged by the operator the releasinglever -may be swung downwardras indicated by the arrow so as to withdrawthe supporting member or stop 11 and allow the standard weight 9 to'acton the strut levers of the sprinkler head; while the retrograde upwardmovement of the-releasing lever toward or past the position indicatedinthe drawing raises the supporting stop so as to engage the projection10 on the testing lever and support the weight therefrom. Any desiredform of indicating mechanism preferably of arela tiveIy'-sensitivecharacter may be used in connection with either end or other part of thetesting lever or element to indicate yielding movement thereof as thestrut levers or the sprinkler head yield under the applied force. Oneillustrative form of such indicating mechanism is shown as comprisingthe indicator, arm 38 which may cooperate at its lower end with thescale 39 having the zero indication 4O thereon and this indicator whichmay be supported by the post 41' on the base of themachine may beactuated by any suitable magnifying lever connections such as 37 whichmay be pivoted about the point 34 in the post and loosely pivoted to theindicator through the pin 36 while the short arm 33 of this lever 37 mayengage the stud or contact portion 32 on the testing lever 2. In thisway the movement of the testing lever causes a greatly increasedmovement of the indicator so long as the parts 32 33 are in cooperativeen agement.

in using this testing device the sprinkler heads which preferably havehad their strut levers and holding devices somewhat overtensioned areplaced in engagement with the cooperating contacts 28 and 28. Then thesupport- 1 1 is withdrawn so as to allow the standard weight on thetesting lever or ele- 11181113 toact on the sprinkler head strut leverswhich are so over-tensioned as not to yield appreciably under thistesting pressure. Then the operator may by moving the setting handle 27so adjust the position of the testing lever as to bring the connectedindicator 38 to Zero point, such as 40,011 the scale, all of thesemovements and adjustments being readily and quickly made. Then'the operator gradually releases the tension of the compression or set screwconnected with the cap 29 which allows this compression screw togradually loosen, thus progressively releasing the tension on thecooperating strut levers 30, 31 until finally a point is reached whenthis tensioning pressure is substantially equal to the testing pressureexerted by the testing lever or element on the ends of these strutlevers. A slight but definite yielding movement of the strut levers andtesting lever then takes place which causes a considerable movement ofthe connected indicator which is of course so located and arranged onthe machine as to be most readily visible to the operator during theseadjustments. At this point, say, for instance, the indicatorhas movedover one or two divisions on the scale from the zero point; the furtherloosening adjustment of the compres sion screw of the sprinkler head isstopped and the releasing lever moved upward so as to bring thesupporting stop 11 into engagement with the testing leverand thussubstantiallyor wholly relieve the testing pressure on the strut leversof the head which may then be released and another sprinkler headsubstituted in the machine. This method of testing the tension of thehead involves a substantially definite amount o i yield of the strutlevers and connected parts under a standard testing pressure which is ofcourse very much preii'crablc to relying on the first perceptibleloosening as determined manually by the operator which gives v-ryindefinite results. l urtherniorc, by making necessary a definite yieldof the parts under standard testing pressure a valuable and reliable preaution is cured against dangerous or undesirable over-tensioning of thesprinkler head. parts such might be highly undesirable under conditionsof practical operation after the head is installed. I

This invention has been described in connection with a number ofillustrative Ol'illKXl iments, parts, forms, sizes, proportions, materials and arrangen'ients, to the details of which. disclosure theinvention is not of course to be limited, since what is claimed as newand what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is set forth in theappeni'le-zl claims.

I claim:

1. In testing devices for automatic sprinkler heads, a base, a testinglever mounted in said base, a weight cooperating with said lever, areleasing handle and a connected supporting stop movably mounted in saidbase and adapted to engage the weighted arm of" said lever adjacent saidweight to support the same, a replaceable contact end on said lever andadapted to engage a sprinkler head strut lever, a cooperating contactpin movably mounted in said base and adapted to engage the other strutlever of the sprinkler head, setting devices cooperating with saidcontact pin and comprising a setting cam to adjust the position of saidcontact pin with respect to said contact end and supporting stop andmagnifying indicating means cooperating with said testing lover andcomprising an indicator and a cooperating scale having a Zero point andmagnifying lever connections between said indicator and said testinglever to give a substantially definite indication of the slight yield ofsaid strut levers and connected parts of an auto matic sprinkler headunder the standard testing pressure of said weight.

2. In testing devices for automatic sprinh ler heads, a base, a testinglever mounted in said base, a weight. cooperating with said lever, acontact end on said lever and adapted to engage a sprinkler head strutlever. a cooperating cont-act pin movably mounted in said base andadapted to engage the of her strut lever of the sprinkler head, settingdevices cooperating with said Contact pin and comprising a setting camto adjust the position of said contact pin with respect to said contactend and magnifying indicating loo means cooperating with said testing:lever and comprising an indicator and acooperating scale havingazeropoint and magnifying lever connections between said indicator and saidtesting lever.

8. In testingdevices for automatic sprinkler heads, a base, a weighted.testing element mounted on said base, a supporting stop movably mountedin said base and adapted to engage said weighted testing element tosupport the same, a contact member on said testing element and adaptedto engage a sprinkler head strut lever, a cooperating contact movablymounted in said base and V adaptedto engage theiother strut lever of thesprinkler head, setting "devices cooperating with said contact pin andcomprising a setting'cam to adjust the relative position of saidcontactpin and. said contact member and magnifyingindicating means cooperatingwith said testing element and comprising a zero point scale-and an indicater to give a substantially definite indication of the-slight yieldunder the standard testing'pressure of said weight on-said strut leversand connected parts 'ofyan automatic sprinkler head in case the tensionthereof is progressively released,

4c. In testing devices for automatic sprinkler heads, a base, a weightedtesting element mounted on said base, a contact member on said testingelement and adapted to engage a sprinkler head strut lever, acooperating contact movably mounted in said base and adapted to engagethe other strut lever of the sprinkler head, and magnifying indieatingmeans cooperating with said testingelement and comprising an indicatorto give a substantially definite indication of the slight yield underthe standard testing pressure of said weight on said strut levers andconnected parts of an automatic sprinkler head in case the tensionthereof is progresssively released.

5. In testing devices for automatic sprinkler heads, a. base, a weightedtesting element mounted on said base, a releasing handle and a connectedsupporting stop movably mounted. in said base and adapted to engage saidweighted testing element to support the same adjacent the weight, acontact member on said testing element and adapted to engage a sprinklerhead strut lever, a coopcrating contact pin movably mounted in said baseand adapted to engage the other strut lever of the sprinkler head,setting devices cooperating with said contact pin and comprising asetting cam to adjust the relative position of said contact pin and saidcontact member and magnifying indicating: means cooperating with saidtesting element and comprising an indicator to give a substantiallydefinite indication of the slightyield under the standard testingpressure on said strut levers and connected parts of an automaticsprinkler head when the tension thereof is progressively released.

6. in testing devicesfor automatic sprinkler heads, a base, a weightedtesting element mounted on said base, a contact member .on said testingelement and adapted-to engagea sprinkleraead strut lever, a cooperatingcontact pin movably mounted in said base and adapted to engage the otherstrut lever of the sprinkler head, setting devices cooperating with saidcontact pin and compris ing a setting cam to adjust the relative position of said contact pin and said contact member and indicating meanscooperating with said testing element and comprising an indicator togive a substantially definite indication of the slight yield under thestandard testingpressure on said strut levers and connected parts of anautomatic sprinkler head when the tension thereof is progressivelyreleased.

7. In testing devices for automatic sprinkler heads, a base, weightedtesting element mounted onsaid base, a contact member on said testingelement and adapted to a sprinkler head strut lever, a cooperatingcontact movably mounted in said base and adapted to engage the otherstrut lever of the sprinkler head, setting devices cooperating with saidcontact to adjust the relative position of said contact and said contactmember and indicating means cooperating with said testing element andcomprising an indicator to give a substantially definite indication ofthe slight yield under the standard testing pressure on said strutlevers and connected parts of an automatic sprinkler head.

8. In testing devices adapted for testing the tension automaticsprinkler heads, a weighted testing element, a, supporting stop adaptedto engage and support said testing element, a contact member on saidtesting element and adapted to engage a sprinkler head. strut lever, acooperating contact adapted to engage the other strut lever of thesprinkler head, setting devices cooperatposition of said contact andsaid contact member and compound lever magnifying indicatine' meanscooperating with said testing element and comprising an indicatoradapted to give a substantially definite indication of the slight yieldunder the standard testing pressure on said strut levers or connectedparts of an automatic sprinkler head in case the tension thereof isprogressively released.

9. In testing devices adapted for testing the tension automaticsprinkler heads, a testing element and means to apply testing pressurethereto, a contact member on said testing element and adapted to engagea sprinkler head, a cooperating contact adapted to engage another partof the sprinkler mp; with said contact toadjust the relative head,setting devices cooperating with said contact to adjust the relativeposition of said contact and said contact member and compound lever'magnifying indicating means cooperating With said'testing element andcomprising an indicator adapted .to give a substantially definiteindication of testing element and adapted to engage a sprinkler head, acooperating cont-act adapt ed to engage another part of the sprinklerhead, and magnifying indicating means cooperating With said testingelement and comprising an indicator adapted to give an indication of theslight yield under the testing pressure on said strut levers orconnected parts of an automatic sprinkler head in case the tensionthereof is progressively released. 7

11. In testing devices adapted for adjust ing the tension of automaticsprinkler heads, a testing element and means to apply testing pressurethereto, a contact member on said testing element and adapted to engagea sprinkler head, a cooperating contact adapted to engage another partof the sprinkler head, setting devices cooperating with said contact toadjust the relative position of said contact and said contact member andindicating means cooperating with said testing element and conn'n'isingan indicator to give a suhs'lai tially definite indication of the slightyield undethe testing pressure on the sprinkler head strut levers orconnected parts in case the tension thereof is changed.

12. In testing devices adapted for adjusting the tension of automaticsprinkler heads, a Weighted testing element, a con tact member on saidtesting element and adapted to engage a sprinkler head, a cooperatingcontact adapted to engage another part oi? the sprinkler head andindicating means cooperating with said testing elorent and comprising anindicator to give an indication of the slight yield under the testirpressure on the sprinkler head strut levers Or connected parts in casethe tension thereof is changed.

ALBERT L. ABBOTT.

